A Note on an Order Level Inventory Model with Varying Two-Phased Demand and Time-Proportional Deterioration

The main purpose of this paper is to generalize the effect of two-phased demand and variable deterioration within the EOQ (Economic Order Quantity) framework. The rate of deterioration is a linear function of time. The two-phased demand function states the constant function for a certain period and the quadratic function of time for the rest part of the cycle time. No shortages as well as partial backlogging are allowed to occur. The mathematical expressions are derived for determining the optimal cycle time, order quantity and total cost function. An easy-to-use working procedure is provided to calculate the above quantities. A couple of numerical examples are cited to explain the theoretical results and sensitivity analysis of some selected examples is carried out.

Special Emergency Resources Preallocation Concerning Demand Time for Tunnel Collapse

Lacking timely access to rescue resources is one of the main causes of casualties in tunnel collapse.To provide timely rescue,this study proposed a multi-objective preallocation model of special emergency resources for tunnel collapse based on demand time.Efficiency,multiple coverage,and cost-effectiveness are taken as the key objectives of the model;the demand time service range is used as a coverage decision factor considering the unique nature of tunnel collapse.The weight of potential disaster-affected points and other general factors are also considered in this model in order to thoroughly combine the distribution of disaster points and service areas.Further,we take 15 main tunnel projects under construction in China as an example.When the relative proximity to the ideal point of the selected optimal schemeε_(a)is smaller than 0.5,we will adjust the weight of three objectives and reselect the optimal scheme untilε_(a)>0.5.Compared with the not preallocated case,the number of rescue rigs needed is reduced by 8.3%,the number of covered potential disaster-affected points is increased by 36.36%,the weighted coverage times are increased from 0.853 to 1.383,and the weighted distance is significantly reduced by 99%when the rescue rigs are preallocated,verifying the feasibility and superiority of the proposed model.

An Inventory Model for Deteriorating Items with Exponential Declining Demand and Time-Varying Holding Cost

In the present paper, a total optimal cost of an inventory model with exponential declining demand and constant deterioration is considered. The time-varying holding cost is a linear function of time. Shortages are not allowed. The items (like food grains, fashion apparels and electronic equipments) have fixed shelf-life which decreases with time during the end of the season. A numerical example is presented to demonstrate the model and the sensitivity analysis of various parameters is carried out.

Multi-Item EOQ Model with Both Demand-Dependent Unit Cost and Varying Leading Time via Geometric Programming

The objective of this paper is to derive the analytical solution of the EOQ model of multiple items with both demand-dependent unit cost and leading time using geometric programming approach. The varying purchase and leading time crashing costs are considered to be continuous functions of demand rate and leading time, respectively. The researchers deduce the optimal order quantity, the demand rate and the leading time as decision variables then the optimal total cost is obtained.

Combined heuristics for determining order quantity under time-varying demands

The time-varying demands for a certain period are often assumed to be less than the basic economic order quantity （EOQ） so that total replenishment quantity rather than economic order quantity is normally considered by most of the heuristics. This acticle focuses on a combined heuristics method for determining order quantity under generalized time-varying demands. The independent policy （IP）, abnormal independent policy （AIP） and dependent policies are studied and compared. Using the concepts of normal/abnormal periods and the properties of dependent policies, a dependent policy-based heuristics （DPH） is proposed for solving the order quantity problems with a kind of time-varying demands pattern under which the first period is normal. By merging the Silver-Meal （S-M） heuristics and the dependent policy-based heuristics （DPH）, a combined heuristics （DPH/S-M） is developed for solving order quantity problems with generalized time-varying demands. The experimentation shows that （1） for the problem with one normal period, no matter which position the normal period stands, the DPH/S-M could not guarantee better than the S-M heuristics, however it is superior to the S-M heuristics in the case that the demands in the abnormal periods are in descending order, and （2） The DPH/S-M is superior to the S-M heuristics for problems with more than one normal period, and the more the number of normal periods, the greater the improvements.

Time-variant fragility analysis of the bridge system considering time-varying dependence among typical component seismic demands

This paper presents a copula technique to develop time-variant seismic fragility curves for corroded bridges at the system level and considers the realistic time-varying dependence among component seismic demands. Based on material deterioration mechanisms and incremental dynamic analysis, the time-evolving seismic demands of components were obtained in the form of marginal probability distributions. The time-varying dependences among bridge components were then captured with the best fitting copula function, which was selected from the commonly used copula classes by the empirical distribution based analysis method. The system time-variant fragility curves at different damage states were developed and the effects of time-varying dependences among components on the bridge system fragility were investigated. The results indicate the time-varying dependence among components significantly affects the time-variant fragility of the bridge system. The copula technique captures the nonlinear dependence among component seismic demands accurately and easily by separating the marginal distributions and the dependence among them.

An Ordering Policy for Deteriorating Items with Time-Dependent Quadratic Demand and Salvage Value under Permissible Delay in Payment

The article deals with an economic order quantity (EOQ) inventory model for deteriorating items in which the supplier provides the purchaser a permissible delay in payment. This is so when deterioration of units in the inventory is subject to constant deterioration rate, demand rate is quadratic function of time and salvage value is associated with the deteriorated units. Shortages in the system are not allowed to occur. A mathematical formulation is developed when the supplier offers a permissible delay period to the customers under two circumstances: 1) when delay period is less than the cycle of time;and 2) when delay period is greater than the cycle of time. The method is suitable for the items like state-of-the-art aircrafts, super computers, laptops, android mobiles, seasonal items and machines and their spare parts. A solution procedure algorithm is given for finding the optimal order quantity which minimizes the total cost of an inventory system. The article includes numerical examples to support the effectiveness of the developed model. Finally, sensitivity analysis on some parameters on optimal solution is provided.

A Time Dependent Inventory Model for Exponential Demand Rate with Constant Production Where Shelf-Life of the Product Is Finite

In this paper a time dependent inventory model is developed on the basis of constant production rate and market demands which are exponentially decreasing. It advances in quest of total average optimum cost considering those products which have finite shelf-life. The model also considers the small amount of decay. Without having any sort of backlogs, production starts. Reaching at the desired level of inventories, it stops production. After that due to demands along with the deterioration of the items it initiates its depletion and after certain periods the inventory gets zero. The decay of the products is level dependent. The objective of this paper is to find out the optimum inventory cost and optimum time cycle. The model has also been justified with proving the convex property and by giving a numerical example.

An Inventory Model for Perishable Items with Time Varying Stock Dependent Demand and Trade Credit under Inflation

In the classical inventory models, it is assumed that the retailer pays to the supplier as soon as he received the items and in such cases the supplier offers a cash discount or credit period (permis-sible delay) to the retailer. In this paper we presented an inventory model for perishable items with time varying stock dependent demand under inflation. It is assumed that the supplier offers a credit period to the retailer and the length of credit period is dependent on the order quantity. The purpose of our study is to minimize the present value of retailer’s total cost. Numerical examples are also given to demonstrate the presented mode.

Evaluation of an alternative dosing regimen with tadalafil, three times per week, for men with erectile dysfunction： SURE study in Italy

Aim： To examine the preference for two dosing regimens of 20 mg of tadalafil, on demand or three times per week, in men affected with erectile dysfunction （ED） in Italy. Methods： Scheduled Use versus on demand Regimen Evaluation （SURE） is a multicenter, crossover and open-label study, involving 94 urology centers in Italy. Patients aged 18 years or older affected with ED for at least 3 months were enrolled and randomized to 20 mg of tadalafil treatment on demand or three times per week for 5-6 weeks. After a 1-week washout, patients were crossed over to the alternate regimen for 5-6 weeks. A treatment preference question was used to determine the preferred treatment regimen. International Index of Erectile Function （IIEF） and Sexual Encounter Profile （SEP） questionnaire were used as efficacy measures. Results： A total of 1 058 men （mean age 54.8 years）, were randomized to treatment. Overall, 59.1% of patients preferred the on-demand regimen and 41.9% preferred the three times per week dosing. Both regimens were efficacious and well tolerated. Although a statistically higher improvement of the IIEF erectile function （IIEF-EF） domain score and the SEP questionnaire was reported for the three times per week compared to the ondemand treatment regimen, this difference was numerically minimal and lacking in clinical significance. Conclusion： Tadalafil is effective and well tolerated whether used on demand or three times per week. Patients should be given the option to choose the best treatment regimen according to personal needs and preferences.

Seismic demand evaluation of medium ductility RC moment frames using nonlinear procedures

Performance-based earthquake engineering is a recent focus of research that has resulted in widely developed design methodologies due to its ability to realistically simulate structural response characteristics. Precise prediction of seismic demands is a key component of performance-based design methodologies. This paper presents a seismic demand evaluation of reinforced concrete moment frames with medium ductility. The accuracy of utilizing simplified nonlinear static analysis is assessed by comparison against the results of time history analysis on a number of frames. Displacement profiles, drift demand and maximum plastic rotation were computed to assess seismic demands. Estimated seismic demands were compared to acceptance criteria in FEMA 356. The results indicate that these frames have sufficient capacity to resist interstory drifts that are greater than the limit value.

Analyzing Effect of Demand Rate on Safety of Systems with Periodic Proof-tests

Quantitative safety assessment of safety systems plays an important role in decision making at all stages of system lifecycle, i.e., design, deployment and phase out. Most safety assessment methods consider only system parameters, such as configuration, hazard rate, coverage, repair rate, etc. along with periodic proof-tests （or inspection）. Not considering demand rate will give a pessimistic safety estimate for an application with low demand rate such as nuclear power plants, chemical plants, etc. In this paper, a basic model of IEC 61508 is used. The basic model is extended to incorporate process demand and behavior of electronic- and/or computer-based system following diagnosis or proof-test. A new safety index, probability of failure on actual demand （PFAD） based on extended model and demand rate is proposed. Periodic proof-test makes the model semi-Markovian, so a piece-wise continuous time Markov chain （CTMC） based method is used to derive mean state probabilities of elementary or aggregated state. Method to determine probability of failure on demand （PFD） （IEC 61508） and PFAD based on these state probabilities are described. In example, safety indices of PFD and PFAD are compared.

支撑新能源电力系统灵活性需求的用户侧资源应用与关键技术

伴随着传统电力系统向以新能源为主体的新型电力系统转型升级,高比例新能源的接入和传统机组占比下降导致电力系统灵活性产生缺额。电动汽车、数据中心、P2X(power-to-X)等需求侧资源可以在多时间尺度为电力系统提供灵活性,是新型电力系统灵活性的重要组成部分。该文首先描述高比例新能源背景下输电网和配电网在不同时间尺度的灵活性需求,然后对比总结了典型需求侧资源的调节特性与应用实践,研究了需求侧资源在支撑高比例新能源输电网和配电网中运行、规划2个层面多时间尺度灵活性需求的应用场景。最后针对未来需求侧资源的研究重点,从聚合技术、电碳协同优化调控策略、可信调节能力量化和通信与信息交换标准等角度,对支撑新型电力系统需求侧资源应用的关键技术进行了总结与展望。

A Research of Real-Time Pricing Mechanism and Its Characteristics

Real-Time Pricing (RTP) is proposed as an effective Demand-Side Management (DSM) to adjust the load curve in order to achieve the peak load shifting. At the same time, the RTP mechanism can also raise the revenue of the supply-side and reduce the electricity expenses of consumers to achieve a win-win situation. In this paper, a real-time pricing algorithm based on price elasticity theory is proposed to analyze the energy consumption and the response of the consumers in smart grid structure. We consider a smart grid equipped with smart meters and two-way communication system. By using real data to simulate the proposed model, some characteristics of RTP are summarized as follows: 1) Under the condition of the real data, the adjustment of load curve and reducing the expenses of consumers is obviously. But the profit of power supplier is difficult to ensure. If we balance the profits of both sides, the supplier and consumers, the profits of both sides and the adjustment of load curve will be relatively limited. 2) If assuming the response degree of consumers to real-time prices is high enough, the RTP mechanism can achieve the expected effect. 3, If the cost of supply-side (day-ahead price) fluctuates dramatically, the profits of both sides can be ensured to achieve the expected effect.

A Study on an Extensive Hierarchical Model for Demand Forecasting of Automobile Components

Demand forecasting and big data analytics in supply chain management are gaining interest.This is attributed to the wide range of big data analytics in supply chain management,in addition to demand forecasting,and behavioral analysis.In this article,we studied the application of big data analytics forecasting in supply chain demand forecasting in the automotive parts industry to propose classifications of these applications,identify gaps,and provide ideas for future research.Algorithms will then be classified and then applied in supply chain management such as neural networks,k-nearest neighbors,time series forecasting,clustering,regression analysis,support vector regression and support vector machines.An extensive hierarchical model for short-term auto parts demand assess-ment was employed to avoid the shortcomings of the earlier models and to close the gap that regarded mainly a single time series.The concept of extensive relevance assessment was proposed,and subsequently methods to reflect the relevance of automotive demand factors were discussed.Using a wide range of skills,the factors and co-factors are expressed in the form of a correlation characteristic matrix to ensure the degree of influence of each factor on the demand for automotive components.Then,it is compared with the existing data and predicted the short-term historical data.The result proved the predictive error is less than 6%,which supports the validity of the prediction method.This research offers the basis for the macroeconomic regulation of the government and the production of auto parts manufacturers.

Space- and time-efficient approach for virtual machine provisioning

As a new promising paradigm, cloud computing can make good use of economics of scale and elastically deliver almost any IT related services on demand. Nevertheless, one of the key problems remaining in cloud computing is related to virtual machine images, which require a great amount of space/time to reposit/provision, especially with diverse requests from thousands of users simultaneously. In this paper, by using the splitting and eliminating redundant data techniques, a space and time efficient approach for virtual machines is proposed. The experiments demonstrate that, compared with existing solutions, our approach can conserve more disk space and speed up the provisioning of virtual machines.

Inventory Management and Demand Forecasting Improvement of a Forecasting Model Based on Artificial Neural Networks

Forecasting is predicting or estimating a future event or trend.Supply chains have been constantly growing in most countries ever since the industrial revolution of the 18th century.As the competitiveness between supply chains intensifies day by day,companies are shifting their focus to predictive analytics techniques to minimize costs and boost productivity and profits.Excessive inventory(overstock)and stock outs are very significant issues for suppliers.Excessive inventory levels can lead to loss of revenue because the company's capital is tied up in excess inventory.Excess inventory can also lead to increased storage,insurance costs and labor as well as lower and degraded quality based on the nature of the product.Shortages or out of stock can lead to lost sales and a decline in customer contentment and loyalty to the store.If clients are unable to find the right products on the shelves,they may switch to another vendor or purchase alternative items.Demand forecasting is valuable for planning,scheduling and improving the coordination of all supply chain activities.This paper discusses the use of neural networks for seasonal time series forecasting.Our objective is to evaluate the contribution of the correct choice of the transfer function by proposing a new form of the transfer function to improve the quality of the forecast.

考虑随机需求的高铁快递运输计划优化方法

为了充分利用高速铁路非高峰期的列车运输能力,提升高速铁路运营的经济效益,研究载客动车组客货共运模式下的高铁快递运输计划优化问题。首先,考虑高铁快递运输需求的时效性与随机性,以最大化高铁快递运营企业期望总利润为优化目标,同时满足列车运输能力、车站装卸效率、标准箱到发量守恒等约束,构建高速铁路快递运输计划优化的2阶段随机规划模型。在第1阶段,以最大化高铁快运期望总利润为目标,确定各列车的运输能力分配计划;在第2阶段,根据第1阶段获得的列车运输能力分配计划,确定随机需求场景下的高铁快递实际装运方案,使该场景下的运营收益达到最大。其次,基于蒙特卡洛模拟随机生成需求场景,采用反向消减算法(BRA)将2阶段随机规划模型转化为包含有限场景数的确定性整数线性规划模型,从而调用商业求解器GUROBI进行求解。最后,以宁杭高速铁路为背景进行算例分析,验证模型和算法的有效性。结果表明,相较于基于确定性需求得到的运输计划,利用随机规划方法得到的方案更能适应需求的随机性,从而达到更好的盈利效果,同时可以兼顾服务水平与企业收益,适用于实际运营中高铁快递运输计划的设计与优化。

基于需求模式自适应匹配的间歇性需求预测方法

大型制造企业售后配件的需求分布稀疏、波动性大,需求频率和需求数量不确定性较高,序列呈现出典型的间歇性特点。在实际运维中,配件需求在频率和数量方面存在较大波动,从而产生变化多样的需求模式,而现有间歇性需求预测主要采用单一或静态组合的固定预测模型,难以充分挖掘不同需求模式下需求序列的演化规律,预测精度和稳定性均难以保证。为解决上述问题,提出一种基于需求模式自适应匹配的间歇性需求预测方法,通过动态识别和匹配需求模式提升间歇性序列预测效果。该方法包括两个阶段:在模型训练阶段,首先,根据配件历史需求数据的间歇性特征,将它划分为需求量序列和间隔量序列,并对两类序列分别进行聚类,以捕获每类序列对应的不同需求和间隔模式;其次,建立包含统计学分析模型、浅层机器学习模型及深度学习模型的预测模型库,测试各模型对每种需求模式的预测效果,识别并标记每类需求模式的最优预测模型。在预测阶段,将待预测序列划分为需求量序列和间隔量序列,确定需求模式并匹配最佳预测模型,进而将需求量和间隔量的预测值合并,形成最终预测结果。在美国汽车公司和英国空军的间歇性配件需求数据集上的实验结果表明,所提方法可适用于不同需求模式的配件历史数据,通过自适应匹配需求模式和最优预测模型,有效提升了预测精度。

基于XGBoost的震后物资动态需求预测

地震作为突发性自然灾害,常常造成严重人员伤亡,应急物资需求预测研究是灾后应急救援的重要组成部分,是物资统筹调配的前提,合理科学的物资需求预测可以提高救援效率。针对震后应急物资需求预测分为两步,首先,对震灾总伤亡人数进行预计,再利用经验函数对地震动态伤亡人数进行初始估计;旨在根据前期时间段内的伤亡人数,实现对后续伤亡人数有更为精准的预测,将以前序时间内的伤亡人数为依据,引入基于XGBoost的地震动态伤亡人数预测模型,以提高预测的准确性和可靠性。其次,利用物资需求量与动态伤亡人数的线性关系,根据具有提前期概念的动态需求估计模型计算出每日所需物资,实现动态需求预测。最后,运用所提方法对“汶川地震”伤亡人数、受伤人数、死亡人数进行动态预测,并估算了物资动态需求量,为灾区应急物资供应提供参考。